EATING NOW: Grilled Mac n’ Cheese Sandwich, Pico de Gallo

An occasional collection of bites. Have you eaten anything good or bad, or seen a good scene while you munched? Send in your short bites to missionlocal@gmail.com. Full names only.

Grilled Mac n’ Cheese Sandwich at Bender’s Bar.Most bar food is not in the best interest of the eater. Indeed, the fries and sliders that one gorges down after five beers don’t need to break the mold in culinary extravagance. It’s there to fill a very particular need, which is getting greasy food in the belly as quickly as possible. However, there are a few wonderful exceptions, and that includes Bender’s Bar, and their miraculous Grilled Mac N’ Cheese Sandwich. Sure, it’s a gut bomb; full of gooey mac between to slices of grilled white bread and a side of tots ($9) but it’s there for a reason. You can get it with bacon. Eat it with a greasy smile. – Carly Nairn

Salsa at El Tepe. El Tepe might look like an average Mission taqueria, but it has a secret weapon, and it’s not on the burrito line. Order one of their fresh and surprisingly healthy burritos, and you get a bag of thin and crispy just-fried tortilla chips.

To the left of the cash register sits a cart filled with different kinds of house salsa, peppers, Mexican style giardiniera, and juicy limes. The pico de gallo is so popular, they add a backup bin around lunchtime. And it is some of the best pico de gallo, or “rooster’s beak” salsa I have ever tasted. El Tepe’s condiment choices vary from unique avocado salsa verde to the spiciest red roasted tomatillo salsa–which stays classy on the heat meter, and doesn’t use sharp spice to overpower the other deep, smoky flavors within. I went for the vegetable-heavy garden burrito, but wished I had packed up more small 4 oz. containers from the self-serve salsa bar. – Jessica Naudziunas TO READ MORE CLICK HERE